The Cunningham Center for Compassionate Aging, part of Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group, features evidence-based programs that address these fears and provide support to dementia patients and their care partners.

Dementia Screening Clinic

A multidisciplinary team of medical experts – a neuropsychologist, palliative medicine physician, pharmacist, social worker, nurse navigator, and others – come together for these comprehensive brain health assessments.

The three-hour evaluations involve both the individual undergoing the assessment and their care partner. They focus on the patient’s physical health, cognitive status, personal safety, and emotional well-being. The assessments include:

Neurocognitive Testing

Assesses important aspects of brain function including attention, memory, language, reaction time, and perception.

 

Physical Examination

Focuses on identifying potential causes for memory issues that are unrelated to dementia and overall health.

 

Medication Evaluation

Involves a review of the patient’s medications – prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbals, and supplements – for their risks, benefits, side effects, and interactions.

 

Social Impacts

Includes a discussion of the patient’s living environment, financial situation, caregiver concerns, advanced directives, and more.

 

Functional Assessment

Screens for balance, mobility, and safety.

 

Sensory Testing

Includes vision, hearing, and olfactory (sense of smell) screenings.

 

Alzheimer's and Dementia Care

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program provides the support people with dementia and their care partners need to continue living in the community. Joining the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program requires:

• An active diagnosis of dementia – or a related condition – from a primary care physician, neurologist, or other health care provider
• That the patient is living at home or in a home-like setting and is not in hospice care or a custodial nursing home
• A patient-care partner team (e.g., a husband and wife or an adult child and parent)

Here’s an overview of how the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program works:

Initial Assessment

This 90-minute, in-person visit with our dementia care specialist takes place at the patient’s home or at the Cunningham Center for Compassionate Aging. The discussion – which includes the patient and their care partner – is designed to help our dementia care specialist learn about your day-to-day living routine, challenges you face, resources you need, and more. Topics discussed include, for example: Medical conditions beyond the dementia diagnosis; emotional issues; network of family and friends; transportation; activities and recreation; diet and exercise; advance directives;  financial management; and care partner stress.

 

Customized Care Plan

After the initial assessment, our dementia care specialist develops a care plan in partnership with your primary care provider. This comprehensive plan is your Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program roadmap. Each plan is crafted to meet the unique needs of the individual dementia patient and their care partner. For example, adult day care services may be recommended for a dementia patient whose care partner works. Home meal delivery could be included in the plan for a dementia patient with specific dietary needs.

 

Ongoing Communication

Communication is an important feature of the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program. The patient, care partner and the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program dementia care specialist communicate often by phone or during in-person visits. Each year, or more frequently, they meet to discuss the dementia patient’s ongoing and emerging needs. Additionally, care partners who need assistance or advice have around-the-clock phone access to the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care team 365-days a year.

 

Your Primary Care Provider's Role

Our dementia care specialist works closely with the dementia patient’s primary care provider to develop, implement, and evaluate the customized care plan. That’s why it’s important that the patient have regular medical appointments – at least two times a year – with their primary care provider.

 

The Dementia Screening Clinic Report

Our expert team develops a complete report based on information gathered from the assessments. The report includes follow-up recommendations, specific suggestions, and an assessment of the patient's cognitive health. The report is shared with other health care providers designated by the patient.